Can perforator



Feb. 15, 1949.

c. E. VENNE CAN PERFOBATOR Filed Aug. 18, 1944 FIG. 5

K v l E mm E 55 5 W0 m. -C /L gym g flw ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1949 I UNITED 1 STATES PATENT OFFICE v p 2,461,709 1 v CAN PERFORATOR V Claude E. Venne, Tomahawk, Wis.

Application August 18, 1944, Serial No. 549,993

4 Claims. (CI. 3016) The present invention relates to can openers and more particularly to those of the perforating or punching type adapted for use on cans containing milk or other liquids.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive can perforator which can be conveniently operated by one hand.

Another object is to provide a can perforator which is stably locatedin operative position by its cooperation with a can.

A further object is to provide a can perforator having can piercing means which are protected or guarded to avoid damage thereto and to prevent injury to users. H

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can perforator constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being shown in section and a projected position of the piercing members thereof being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the can perforator, and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the perforator, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section.

In the drawing, the numerals iii and H designate a pair of relatively movable elongated plates which are connected at their endsby a hinge pin 12 to guide their relative movement, the connected plates resembling a strap hinge. The bottom plate forms a base member and is adapted to rest on the top wall of a can l2 which is to be perforated, the can being of the type containing milk or other liquid. The free end of the plate. in has a down-turned arcuate flange is adaptedto bear laterally against the circular rim of the can, so as to position the plate on the can. The radius of the flange I3 is preferably shorter than the radius of the smallest can on which the device is to be used, so that the opposite corners or ends of the flange will engage the can rim and cause the plate Hi to extend diametrically across spaced pair of downwardly projecting sonically pointed piercing or penetrating members 15 and IS, the members being riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the plate. If desired, these piercing.

members may be integral with the top plate, The

piercing members l5 and it are movable through respective apertures l1 and I3 formed in the bottom plate, the aperture ll being here shown in the form of a notch which dividesthe rim-enw' gaging flange 13. The piercing member I5 is ad-' jacent to the flange l3 for punching a pouring opening in the can adjacent to the rim of the can, and the piercing member l6, whichis at some distance from the member 15, is adapted for punching a vent opening in the can. Alarge convexly rounded knob I9 is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the top plate ata point approximately midway between the piercing members and is adapted to be struck or pressed by the palm;

of the hand. The knob also serves to place the device on the can and to remove it from the can.

The hinged plates l0 and II are normally retained in spaced relation one above the other by a leaf spring 20 which is secured to the underside of the plate H, as by the riveted piercing member [5 and the riveted knob l9. One end portion of the spring 20 forms a spring element and has bent tongues 2! which bear on the upper surface of the base plate It] to urge the plates apart. The other end portion of the spring is bent downwardly to form a retainer and is provided with an inturned lip 22 engageable beneath the end flange is of the base plate for limiting the upward movement of the top plate I I. If desired, the base plate flange may have a notch or recess 23 to receive the lip. The normal spacing of the plates is such that the points of the piercing members extend in the base plate apertures but do not project, thus avoiding damage to the points and preventing injury to persons handling the device. In assembling the device, the spring lip 22 is sprung over the base plate flange it to place the device in its operative condition. If occasion should arise, the spring lip may be released from the base plate to permit wider separation of the plates.

When the device is to be used it is placed on the top wall of a can, as indicated in Fig. 1, the base plate Ill resting diametrically on the can top wall and the flange I3 engaging the rim of the can so as to position the piercing members. A push or rap' by the palm of the hand on the knob l9 will cause the piercing members to penetrate the can top wall, thus forming the pouring and vent openings. The points of the piercing members may be arranged for either simultaneous or successive initial contact with the can top wall.

Upon release of manual pressure the spring 20 will retract the piercing members from the can, permitting the device to be lifted free of the can. During the use of the device only one hand required, it being unnecessary to use the other hand either to guide the device or to steady the can.

The device can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, the parts being few in number and being of simple construction. When the device is in use the knob is only a short distance above the base plate, thus insuring stability when the piercing pressure is applied.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A can perforator comprising a base member adapted to rest on the top of a can, a piercing member movable in an up-and-down direction and adapted to puncture the top wall of the can,

a supporting arm for said piercing member movably swingably carried by said base member, and a retainer for limiting the outward swing of said arm and forming a guard for said piercing memher.

2. A can perforator comprising a base member adapted to rest on the top of a can, a piercing member movable in an up-and-down direction and adapted to puncture the top wall of the can, a supporting arm for said piercing member swingably carried by said base member, spring means for retracting said piercing member from its hole-forming position, and a stop member carried by the free end portion of said arm and engageable with said base member for limiting retraction of said arm, said stop member being releasable to permit further separation of said arm from said base member.

3. A can perforator comprising a base member adapted to rest on the top of a can, an arm extending above said base member for up-and-down movement and hingedly secured to said base member, and a pair of spaced downwardly projecting piercing members carried by said arm and adapted to puncture the top wall of the can, said piercing members being at difierent distances from the hinge axis of the arm, and said arm having a manual pressure knob thereon bet een the piercing members.

4, A can perforator comprising a pair of h ngedly connected upper and lower plates, the 10 er plate forming a base member adapted to rest on the top of a can, a downwardly projecting piercing member carried on the upper plate and adapted to puncture the top wall of the can, and a leaf spring having a portion urging said plates apart and another portion limiting the separating movement of said plates.

CLAUDE E. VENNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

